Direct and Indirect Speech: Understanding the rules in Swedish

In Swedish, both direct and indirect speech are commonly used in everyday communication. Direct speech refers to quoting someone's words exactly as they were spoken, while indirect speech refers to reporting someone's words in our own words. Understanding how to convert direct speech to indirect speech, and vice versa, is important for effective communication in Swedish.

Converting Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

When converting direct speech to indirect speech in Swedish, there are a few key rules to keep in mind:

1. Change the verb form: Verbs are changed to reflect the shift from direct speech to indirect speech. The most common change is from present tense to past tense.

   Example:

   • Direct speech: Hanna säger, "Jag är trött." (Hanna says, "I am tired.")
   • Indirect speech: Hanna säger att hon var trött. (Hanna says that she was tired.)

2. Use appropriate reporting verbs: In indirect speech, we use reporting verbs to introduce the reported statement. Common reporting verbs in Swedish include säga (to say), berätta (to tell), and fråga (to ask).

   Example:

   • Direct speech: Lars säger, "Jag kommer imorgon." (Lars says, "I will come tomorrow.")
   • Indirect speech: Lars säger att han kommer imorgon. (Lars says that he will come tomorrow.)

3. Adjust pronouns and other references: Pronouns and other references may need to be adjusted when converting direct speech to indirect speech. Pay attention to the gender and number of the subject and object pronouns.

   Example:

   • Direct speech: Peter säger, "Jag älskar dig." (Peter says, "I love you.")
   • Indirect speech: Peter säger att han älskar dig. (Peter says that he loves you.)

Converting Indirect Speech to Direct Speech

Converting indirect speech back to direct speech in Swedish involves reversing the changes made when converting direct speech to indirect speech:

1. Change the verb form: The verb form is changed from past tense back to the appropriate tense in direct speech.

   Example:

   • Indirect speech: Hon sa att hon var trött. (She said that she was tired.)
   • Direct speech: Hon sa, "Jag är trött." (She said, "I am tired.")

2. Identify the reporting verb: The reporting verb used in indirect speech can be mentioned or omitted depending on the context.

   Example:

   • Indirect speech: Anna berättade att hon hade sett en film. (Anna told that she had watched a movie.)
   • Direct speech: Anna hade sett en film. (Anna had watched a movie.) or Anna sa att hon hade sett en film. (Anna said that she had watched a movie.)

3. Adjust pronouns and references: Pronouns and other references need to be adjusted to match the original direct speech.

   Example:

   • Indirect speech: Lisa sa att hon hade glömt sina nycklar. (Lisa said that she had forgotten her keys.)
   • Direct speech: Lisa sa, "Jag har glömt mina nycklar." (Lisa said, "I have forgotten my keys.")

Remember, using direct and indirect speech appropriately allows you to convey others' words accurately and effectively. With practice, you will become more proficient in converting between direct and indirect speech in Swedish.